Political change in Israel: A major political transformation is, and has been underway in Israel. More people in Israel are now embracing what the press calls “hard right policies”. Even Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned of “seeds of fascism” in Israel’s current government, while former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon drew comparisons to 1930s Germany. Some months back ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman was appointed Defense Minister.

Lieberman is the founder and leader of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party. He served as Israel’s minister of foreign affairs from 2013 to 2015 and 2009 to 2012.

While serving as the foreign minister in March 2015, Lieberman declared that Palestinian citizens of Israel who are treacherous should be beheaded: “Those who are against us, there’s nothing to be done – we need to pick up an ax and cut off his head,” Lieberman declared at Israel’s “Voting for Democracy –Elections” conference. “Otherwise we won’t survive here.” It was over ten years ago (2003) that thousands of Palestinian prisoners should be drowned in the Dead Sea; he then said he wouldn’t hesitate to provide the buses to take them to the Dead Sea. He never retracted the statement.

We see nation-states collapsing all around us: Libya, Syria, Iraq. We do not want another failed state in our neighborhood, which would rapidly turn into a stronghold for terrorists, as we have seen in Gaza. We do not want tunnels to suburbs of Tel Aviv or missiles pointed at Jerusalem.

Some are describing Netanyahu’s coalition government the most right-wing coalition in Israel’s history. Increasingly the electorate in Israel is moving to the right as well. Israelis are becoming deeply concerned about the chaos in the Middle East, a resurgent Iran and a deteriorating Egypt. They grasp the Middle East around them is spinning out of control; at least the “far-right” leaders will protect us—is the reasoning of more and more citizens who often vote for centrist parties, or vote for left leaning parties.

Also fewer people in Israel now support the idea of a Palestinian state. The idea of a 2 state solution is waning. Let me put it this way—the peace camp in Israel use to be quite large–—that group has withered considerably over the last year. Israelis…even those who are in favor of a 2 state solution, are now saying…peace with the Palestinians is simply unrealistic—the Palestinians hate us.

Religious Jews are gaining political power, in part, because they are having more children than the secular families in Israel. Notice the breakdown of Israel’s diverse population: Watching the rise of the right in Israel is important. In the not too distant future Israel will build an altar and daily sacrifices will begin once again. It would seem that there must be a religious revival in Israel for sacrifices to be accepted by a majority in the country.

Christ prophesied that “the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, [would be] standing in the holy place” (Matthew 24:15). He was referring to Daniel 11:31, which said: “Then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.” Religious revival means that we will see the “right” in Israel dominate the country. We are not there yet, but we are moving in that direction.

Syria is not simply about Syrians and the Middle East; Syria has become a proxy ground for the likes of Russia, the United States, Iran, Turkey, Hezbollah, the Islamic State, the Saudis and the rest of the Arab monarchies. All these powers are involved in Syria—Syria has become a testing of clarity and strength for all these governments. As well, Iraq, Lebanon and the Kurds are heavily influenced by what is happening in Syria. And let’s not forget that Europe has been deeply impacted by the chaos in Syria.

The Syrian civil war has sent huge numbers of migrants to Europe creating heavy friction within the European Union. Europe’s refugee crisis is dividing countries that wanted to freeze migration from those that would encourage it (such as Germany). This intensified already existing tensions in Europe over the economy. It is practical to say that Syrian migrants shaped the Brexit vote, encouraged the rise of radical right-wing nationalist groups throughout Europe and will bring to power new leaders in various European nations when people vote in national elections in Germany, France, Italy and Greece over the next 2-3 years.

President Assad of Syria is among one of the basest of men who continues to rule in the Middle East (Daniel 4:17); that whole region will only become more chaotic as we transition over into the year 2017–Steven LeBlanc

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American Destroyer harassed by Iranian speed boats

The warning follows an episode on Wednesday when a US warship and Iranian ships faced off near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. US Navy spokesman Bill Urban said on Thursday that a US Navy patrol boat in the Persian Gulf fired three warning shots after an Iranian vessel approached head on, coming within 200 meters of the US ship.

During Wednesday’s incident, the USS Squall “resorted to firing three warning shots from their 50-caliber gun, which caused the Iranian vessel to turn away,” he said.

Iran has again threatened it will close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a passageway through which 40 percent of the world’s oil is transported, unless the US and its allies stop “threatening” it, a senior Iranian military commander has said. The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s chief seafaring energy choke point. Through that narrow waterway passes more than 17 million barrels of oil – more than a third of all maritime-traded oil each day.

Iran does play a significant role in end-time prophecy, but many get confused on the timing of various prophecies concerning Persia. Let me briefly state that Persia (Iran) is mentioned as part of the Gog-Magog pact in Ezekiel 38-39, noting that Russia, China, Pakistan and India, along with Iran, merge together to attack the country of Israel. The question is; when does this take place?

Many believe that Ezekiel 38:8 refers to the Jews who have returned to the land during the past century, they conclude that this prophecy concerns an invasion of the modern Jewish state of Israel prior to Christ’s return. But this cannot be, as the attack occurs when Israel is dwelling in peace with no defensive walls, a time soon after Christ’s coming better fits this prophecy. The returned Israelites are described in this prophecy as dwelling in peace and safety-in a “land of unwalled villages…without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (verse 11). This certainly does not describe Israel today, but better describes Israel at the beginning of the Millennium.

We will explore Iran more in depth in a future blog regarding Persia (Iran) at the time of the end—Steven LeBlanc

Comments Off on Turkey: emerging as a major regional power: |
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Steven LeBlanc

The Turks Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge links Asia and Europe

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has emerged from the July 15th coup attempt in a much stronger place. The coup, rather than dividing the country has brought a greater degree of stability, with the exception of the Kurdish area in the Southeastern part of the country.

President Erdoğan is using the coup as a pretext to attack his “enemies”. He is conducting a massive purge of his antagonists, having arrested tens of thousands. The focus of the purge has been the military, which is a secular power that is pro-American. The army is constitutionally responsible for upholding secularism. But Erdoğan is seeking to please the Muslim leadership in the country.

Turkey is pivotal in the Middle East. It is the key to subduing ISIS in Syria and in Iraq. Turkey is the main movement point for refugees seeking to move into Europe. The European Union desperately looks to Turkey to stem the flow of migrants moving onto the European continent. In essence Turkey serves as a massive plug to stop the refugees. Turkey is also seen as a bulwark against Iran. Turkey and Iran are enemies, remember Turkey is Sunni; Iran is Shiite. Both powers are seeking to be the key power that controls the Middle East.

Turkey is significant for a number of reasons:

●It has a population of 80 million people
●Turkey is the major gateway for Muslims to enter into Europe—Europe looks to Turkey to serve as a plug that can stop the flow of refugees into Europe.
●There are nearly 4 million Turks living in the nation of Germany
●The army may be the largest in the Middle East, but much of its size comes from draftees on short-term duty.
●Turkey is one of the most geographically strategic countries in the world today—a potentially decisive bridge between continents. Turkey has been called the World’s Island, a central meeting point of three continents – Asia, Europe and Africa (Turkey connected to Africa via the Mediterranean sea).
●We believe that many Turks are descended from Esau (or Edom), son of Isaac—remember Isaac had two sons—Esau and Jacob.
●Turkey wants to become part of the European Union—and Turkey wants its citizens to have the right to travel to European cities without having to obtain visas for travel in Europe—this is very important to Turkey—But European leaders really do not want Turkey to be a part of theirUnion—Europeans fear the Muslims Turks.
●Turkey is pivoting: it has reopened relations with Israel (both countries fear and hate Iran).
●Turkey has recently apologized to Russia, for tensions over the shooting down of a Russian fighter jet in Syria. Turkey needs to maintain a practical relationship with Russia. Turkey is the second-largest buyer of Russian natural gas, a significant importer of Russian oil and metals, and the largest buyer of Russian wheat and sunflower oil. A combative relationship with Russia will only bring enormous economic pain to the Turks.
●Turkey is surrounded by unrest: Turkey faces massive chaos to the south in Syria and Iraq, instability in the Caucasus, and emerging U.S.-Russian tension in the Black Sea. Also, Russian influence is rising in the Balkans.
●Turkey is also facing a rising Kurdish insurgency within its borders and just outside of its borders.

Prophecy

We believe history tells us that the tribes of Esau are scattered throughout the Middle East, with a large number of Edomites residing in what we know as the nation of Turkey today. One of the grandsons of Esau was Teman (Genesis 36:11). The name Teman (Genesis 36:34) was carried down in history in what we know today as the ‘Ottoman’ Empire. Some historians also tell us that the Khazars called the Byzantium Emperor the “King of Edom”.

Esau and his descendants are referred to in the Bible, often by the name Edom (Genesis 25:30)—and sometimes by the name of their homeland of Mount Seir (Genesis 36:8-9), southeast of Judea, in what is now southern Jordan. For centuries, the people of Edom acted cruelly against the Israelites, attacking them and invading their land. Amalek was the worst of the Edomite-related peoples. The Bible records that even God has a special rancor for Amalek, saying in Exodus 17:16 “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Notice a prophecy in Ezekiel 25: God says, “Thus saith the Lord; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself on Israel; I will stretch out my hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from Edom, and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword!” (Ezekiel 25:12-13).

The end-time descendants of Edom will be punished severely for their violent acts against Israel and Judah.